THE ELLERSLIE SENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 6

THE ELLERSLIE SENSATION.

A RACEGOER'S VIEWS.

(To the Editor.)

Many hundreds besides myself, visitors to the races on Saturday, take strong to being characterised in your Sports Edition aa "a howling mob." That the numerous backers of the seven horses left at the post sorely had some right of protest cannot be but let me ask what possible hope had the outside patrons of the course of even listened to—the subsequent action of the racmf officials clearly defines this—had thev not their demonstration of protest immediately ja front of the official stand, even although they had to invade the course proper to do must not be overlooked that nearly as many disappointed backers in the enclosure gathered round the birdcage and joined vigorously {■ the protest and "counts out," and the numben would have been doubled had the Leger people had the chance to join in. If emphatic demand "We want our money badci* or "Another race!" constitutes "a howlinr mob," then your reporter is right and I wrong, but Ido not admit it. Everything remarkably orderly, as the police can testify but the lamentably weak official position viz., that of utterly ignoring the protest, was more than any Auckland public will submit to —and now they know it. The absence of an* attempt at conciliation or explanation was strongly resented, and the very tardy appear, ance of Dr. Grant really did more harm thia good, as his remarks were mainly and conveyed little more than a request to disperse. I say it was a scandalous and criminal thing to put horses to race right Into the body of the assembly:—this was recognised far too late, after people' had been ridden down and maimed. All credit is due to those who attempted to prevent this calamity by waving and endeavouring to get the horses to stop! They were doing the only thing possible to protect lives in great danger under the circumstances. Surely such another inrMo n t never happen in Auckland again. W. H. MULCAHY.